The Idea of "House Money"

[SyracuseVol]

Hey y'all. First, just wanted to say I didn't see any of the LBSU game (ND-Winthrop was the NYC affiliate game of choice), but of course saw all of the UVA game. It was a prototypical NCAA Tournament win. Just survive and advance. It wasn't always pretty, wasn't easy toward the end (those last 45 seconds took an eternity to tick off right?!), but UT advanced.

I just wanted to try to relate my SU tourny appearances over the last few years to how all Big Orange Nation is approaching this Sweet 16 weekend. I think you're in a pretty similar situation to what Syracuse was a few years ago. In '03, SU had a 3 seed (pretty high although they did win 24 games) in the east region, which meant they were close to home all the way until New Orleans. They got hot, took advantage of their surroundings, and won the whole thing. The next year, they were a 5 seed out west, but matched up with an overrated ACC team (the 4 seed Maryland which had just won the ACC Tourney out of nowhere), they proceeded to beat BYU and then Maryland, moving onto the Sweet 16, where those lousy Bammers the 8 seed knocked them off, one game short of a rematch with UConn, who SU had beaten in the regular season finale a few weeks prior.

To compare...UT last year got what many consider a pretty high 2 seed, but met a couple of hot shooting mid-majors who played a much different style than they were used to, and lost in the 2nd round. This year, like SU in 04, UT is a 5 that got a pretty good matchup against an overrated ACC 4 seed in the 2nd round. Both teams also had pretty much the same crop of talent in their 2 seasons. (SU minus melo, UT minus role players)

What I'm trying to say is that, after SU lost in 04, with the same crop of talent coming back the next year, and most of it back in 06, SU didn't win a tournament game again, based off a combination of tiring themselves out by winning their conf tournament, and some poor draws by the committee.

Will the same thing happen to Tennessee over the next year or two with Lofton/Smith/etc presumably back for at least one more year? Obviously I can't see into the future.

My main point is to look at this as an opportunity to win it all, to not stand on the battleship saying Mission Accomplished because you've reached the Sweet 16. This is a vulnerable, "lucky" Ohio State team. In the NCAA Tournament, anything can and will happen. One big run, one cold-shooting day, and your dreams can move on or be crushed.

I understand if the Vols aren't successful later today it'll lead many to say this season has already been a great success. I'm just saying that you never know what will happen to a program over the next 2-3 years in such a volatile situation as the NCAA Tournament is. Enjoy it, but at the same time, don't be afraid to think, hope, and dream big, because you can never know how long the window of opportunity is going to stay open.

 

[cotton]

Will the same thing happen to Tennessee over the next year or two with Lofton/Smith/etc presumably back for at least one more year? Obviously I can't see into the future.

Obviously, nobody knows whether we will be in the Sweet 16 next year. However, making it this year is an overachievement for this team based on its personel, and next year they all return except roll-player Bradshaw. With 4 significantly contributing Freshmen, star Lofton making strides each year, and players like Childress rapidly improving, next year's squad should be better than this year's squad.

It is not exactly house money, but it is an indication that Pearl can get a lot out of the talent he has, and that talent level is rising. That is reason for optimism.